Horse-detacher.



PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905.

S. O. ANDERSON.

HORSE DETAUHER.

APPLICATION FILED my 14, 1904.

. v N CAYIZQQ'PJOJZ, \Nltnesss Invenkor.

NiTnn STATES Patented January 17, 1905.

PATENT OFFIC HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,256, dated January 1'7, 1905.

Application filed May 14:, 1904.. $erial No. 207,982.

To all whmn may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVhitewright, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Horse-Detacher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices known as horse-detachers, which are applied to the swingletrees of vehicles for holding the traces and are readily operable forreleasing the latter in the event of a runaway or the like, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which will positively and effectually release the traces and obviate liability of the latter becoming accidentally hung.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a swingletree having my improved detacher applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view, on a larger scale, of one of the devices, showing the same in engaging position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in releasing position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a swingletree of the usual or any appropriate construction having applied to its ends my improved detachers 9., designed for holding the traces 3 and operable by a traction cord or element 4 for simultaneously releasing the traces, as more fully hereinafter explained.

The trace-holding devices are identical in construction and operation, and I will there fore describe but one in detail, in which 5 designates an end member composed, preferably, of strap metal folded back upon itself to produce a pair of arms which lie, respectively, on the upper and lower sides of the swingletree and produce at the end of the latter a trace-receiving socket or recess 6, the member 5 being securely riveted or otherwise attached to the swingletree.

Pivoted at 7 between a pair of spaced ears 8, arising from the upper face of the member 5, is a retaining member or lever 9, which carries at its outer or forward end a locking member or pin 10, pivotally connected at its upper end to the retaining-lever and designed to extend vertically downward through and centrally of the socket 6 for engagement with the trace 3, the walls of the member 5 being provided with alined perforations, through which the locking member passes and by which it is held against lateral displacement.

Attacl'ied to the upper face of the member 5 and swingletree in rear of the lever 9 is a leafspring 11, designed to engage beneath the adjaeent rearwardly-projecting end of the lever for maintaining the latter normally in traceloeking position, the lever beingadapted to be moved against the action of the spring for raising the locking member out of engagement with and releasing the trace.

Pivoted to the lever 9 at 12 is an operatinglever 13, bifurcated, as shown, to receive the forward portion of the lever 9 between it and having rearwardly-projecting bearing portions or arms 14, which extend upon opposite sides of the lever 9 in rear of the pivot 12, the forward or outer portion of the lever 13 being curved outwardly and upwardly, as shown, and perforated at its upper end, as at 15, to permit attachment of the traction element 4.

In practice the locking member 10 will normally engage the trace and be maintained in such engagement by means of the spring .11, as heretofore explained. When, however, it is desired to release the trace, traction upon the element 4 will swing the operating-lever 13 on its pivot, and,owing to its engaging portion or arms 1 1 bearing upon the adjacent face of the member 5, will raise the forward end of the lever 9 against the action of the spring, thereby lifting the locking member out of engagement with the trace and releasing the latter. Upon relaxation of the element t the spring will serve to automatically return the parts to normal trace-engaging position. It is to be particularly noted that the cord 4, which works through suitable guides 16, provided on the swingletree, has its ends connected, respectively, with the pair of operating-levers l2 and when actuated will operate the latter for simultaneously releasing both traces. Furthermore, it is to be observed that,owing to the members which hold the traces being positively movable out of engagement With the latter, there is no possibility of the traces becoming caught, and thus defeating their immediate and proper releasal.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensive device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, it being understood that minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a draft-bar provided with a socket, of a retaining-lever pivotally connected with the bar, a locking member carried by the retaining-lever and adapted to extend through the socket for engagement with a trace, a spring acting on the retaining-lever to maintain the member normally in looking position, an operating-lever pivotally connected with the retaining-lever and adapted for actuating the latter to move the locking member to releasing position, and a traction element connected with the operating-lever. 52. In a device of the class described, the combination with a draft-bar provided With a socket, of a retaining-lever pivotally connected with the bar, a locking member carried by the retaininglever and adapted to extend through the socket for engagement with a trace, a spring for maintaining the locking member normally in looking position, a pivoted operating-lever having bearing portions on which the said lever rides when rocked on its pivot, the operating-lever being adapted to actuate the retaining-lever for moving the locking member to releasing position, and a traction element connected with the operating-lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afli-Xed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses: 4

GUY HAMILTON, W. O. WONSAOK. 

